Reinach, Switzerland and Rehovot, Israel
6 March 2023
By leveraging Evolva’s precision-fermentation technology, Grace Breeding’s Nitrogen Fixation solution has demonstrated the desired impact on yield and overall crop resilience
Evolva (SIX: EVE), a pioneer in the field of natural molecules and industrial biotech, partners with Grace Breeding (TASE: GRAC), a forward-thinking ag-climate-tech company developing biological-based products, to replace chemical nitrogen fertilizers for crops with eco-friendly and cost-effective biofertilizers. Grace Breeding’s sustainable proprietary plant-based formula Bio-Fertilizer (NFT) leverages Evolva’s precision-fermentation platform to boost crop yields without harming soil and causing chemical runoff entering bodies of water.
The nitrogen-based fertilizer market was estimated to be upwards of $118 billion in 2021. Due to the environmental impact of chemical fertilizers on soil and groundwater, regulations regarding the use of these are ever increasing, supporting the significance of biologically-based fertilizers. Additionally, the war in Ukraine, a major producer of chemical fertilizers, has contributed to driving up global food prices due to the widespread use of nitrogenous fertilizers, despite the environmental damage they inflict. As such, biological alternatives are becoming increasingly important, addressing a notable market need.
NFT is an environmentally sensitive bio-fertilization approach where natural molecules are used to enable crops to naturally fix nitrogen, substantially reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. As a result, the process reduces CO2 emissions and leads to a significantly lower environmental impact on soil and groundwater while being cost-effective. NFT can be applied to a wide range of crops including corn, wheat, and rice.
Grace Breeding’s Bio-Fertilizer NFT solution, in combination with Evolva’s precision-fermentation technology, has proven successful in farm-scale corn and wheat tests in Israel and Brazil. Additional ongoing field tests conducted in Brazil are slated to conclude this year.
“We are very excited to collaborate with Evolva to improve crop yields,” says Assaf Dotan, CEO of Grace Breeding. “By substituting conventional fertilizers with our Bio-Fertilizer in combination with Evolva’s precision-fermentation technology, we can make significant contributions towards climate change and reduce the impact on air, soil, and water.”
“The partnership with Grace Breeding opens a new and attractive market for Evolva,” says Christian Wichert, CEO of Evolva. “We see significant long-term potential in this partnership, which represents an additional upside to our mid-term plan. It is further testimony to Evolva’s capabilities along the entire value chain and the potential of our powerful technology from our unique precision-fermentation platform.”
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